If you haven’t been to South Beach, South Beach is everything you have seen in movies and more. It is luxury living, fine dining, beautiful people, hot weather and amazing beaches. It is also quite pricey to stay in South Beach $$!

I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Wow! What? How can you stay there and save money you might ask?! Well I will tell you….

BOOK EARLY!!!  When you book early, you are able to snag great package deals that are sold on a limited  basis. The package deal I booked was the Reconnect Package. For $320/night (plus resort fees and tax – let’s just say $400) – you receive 2 comp buffet breakfasts per day valued at $80/day and a $100 resort credit/day for food, drinks or whatever you end up spending at the hotel. The breakfast buffet is open from 7AM-11AM and there is a plethora of food including an omelette station/crepe station and so  much more. It was definitely enough food that lasted me until dinner. On top of these perks, there are normal benefits when staying at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. You receive free bottled water (I’ll value that at $10/day) and the hotel offers free car service in a Mercedes from 2PM-10PM in a 3mile radius of the hotel (I’ll value that at $20/day). On top of that, the service at the Ritz-Carlton properties is unparalleled. The Ladies and Gentleman at the Ritz will cater to your every need.

The Ritz-Carlton is a part of the Marriott chain of hotels. If you are any sort of Marriott Status (I am platinum), you receive great benefits when staying at a Ritz property. You receive a category upgrade that is worth about $50-100/night, a welcome amenity and a late check-out. In Miami, a late check-out is key since you can use the pool during the day of your check-out and then still have a hotel room until 4PM.

All in all, if you take advantage of everything the hotel has to offer, it is very easy to justify the $400/night price that I paid. $400 – $210 (what I value the benefits/perks at) = $190. $190 is not looking so bad!! I vacationed with 3 of my girlfriends, which lowered the price per person per night too. They do not charge an extra person charge per night, which makes it even more enticing to stay here.

PS: There is also a Walgreens right next to the Ritz, so I definitely suggest swinging by there to pick up snacks, alcohol (since alcohol is super expensive in Miami Beach) and sushi. Yes, sushi! Walgreens has a sushi chef that actually can prepare some pretty great sushi rolls. Enjoy!!